Running-board for vehicles.



No. 634,378. Patented Oct. 3, I899. J. B. THACHER.

RUNNING BOARD FOR VEHICLES.

(Application filed July 28, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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TNITED STATES,

ATENT rFIcE.

JOHN BOYD TEACHER, OF ALBANY, NEIV YORK.

RUNNING-BOARD FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,378,.dated October 3, 1899.

Application filed July 28, 1899. Serial No. 725,431. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BOYD TEACHER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Albany, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Runhing-Boards for Vehicles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which forms a part of this specification.

The. object of my invention is to provide a new and improved running-board for vehicles, such as street-cars more particularly; but it may also be used for any vehicle where the same may be applicable.

In the drawing the figure shows a side elevation of a portion of an open street-carhaving my running-board attached in full opera tive construction.

Heretofore all running-boards on such cars have been continuous ones, and on account of the bulk of the machinery placed under all motor-cars this running-board has been so high above the ground or pavement that stout, short, and elderly persons have experienced much dilficulty in stepping upon it, and this has especially been the case with persons in delicate health, and such persons have been deterred from patronizing car-lines using the same and have felt themselves obliged to walk, and the car companies lost custom. It will be at once seen that the providing of a suitable running-board for cars of this character requires a peculiar and proper arrangement of parts to render it not only acceptable to the public, but also perfectly safe in everyday use. I have therefore arranged my board 0 with steps b, the board being affixed to the body of the car a in any Well-known manner. On the ends of the seats I have placed abandle cl, and in line with the ends of the seats I have placed my steps b, so that a person entering or leaving the car will first grasp either the handle (1 or the stanchion f, as the case may be; but in any event he cannot, unless intentionally, step from the floor of the car upon step b, but must first step upon the running-board o and then down upon the step Z) as he leaves the car. On entering the car he may seize the handle at and assist himself to step upon the step b, then upon the runningboard 0, and from thence upon the floor of the car. If otherwise arranged or so the step b was in line with the opening between the seats, a person would, or at least might, re-

.ceive a fall and injury; but as I have arranged my running-board it is practically impossible for a person to be injured by its use. As the seat-backs e are turned over facing either end of the car, the steps b are equally serviceable.

I'do not confine myself to any particular form of step I) nor to any particular manner of attaching them to the running-board or to the car, as I set them in any manner that may seem most desirable.

I-Iaving described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a car or vehicle of the class shown and described, a running-board having openings therein and steps arranged to coincide with said openings, said steps being arranged below said running-board substantially as de= scribed.

2. In a car or vehicle of the class shown and described, a running-board having openings therein and steps arranged to coincide with said openings, said steps being arranged below the running-board and in a vertical line practically with the seat ends substantially as described.

3. In a car or vehicle of the character shown and described a running-board as 0 having steps below it as b all arranged so that the steps will stand in vertical line practically with the seat ends and the treads of the running-board practically in line with and in front of the end openings between the seats, and having means arranged whereby passengers may assist themselves to mount the steps substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN BOYD THACHER.

Witnesses:

THOMAS H. Goornn, W. M. BROWN. 

